Ramblings of an Englishman

Pokémon day has come and gone with the announcement for legends Z-A coming in late 2025 (likely October/November you’d have to imagine). I imagine we will get more reveals in that time but I wanted to take some time over my initial thoughts. I’ve left this a few days to wipe out immediate reaction which was one of disappointment. This was mainly due to me expecting more from the announcement but I understand that is my issue so didn’t want it to determine the course of the thoughts. However, as someone who only uses new Pokémon or new regional forms for their teams on each generation I hope we get some reveal geared towards some of those in the near future. Let’s start with the starter line up. For me having 2 for Johto meaning all three Johto starters (and 2 Unova) starters in 2 legends games I odd. I would’ve loved to see more variety to the generations chosen from and one from each I thought would be the way they would go. I do find the starters of generation 2 & 5 the weakest a...

As mentioned in my previous post I think the next Pokémon legends game will be one that celebrates 30+ years of the franchise and as such it is my belief it will take place in Kanto. With there already being multiple remakes of the original Red & Blue/Green I don’t see a full remake being done. If there was a let’s go Johto then it’s possible to see Kanto but that remains to be seen. I think a legends game in the region gives us a fresh look at a place we have been to multiple times. I wanted to just describe some of the ideas I’d have personally going into that game to make it a fun visit back to this region and also what they could do to have some fun and celebrate 30+ years of Pokémon. My main points come around the Pokédex. While we are still a month away from Legends Z-A news I don’t expect the Kalos starters to be your choices at the start of the game (I’m thinking Snivy, Torchic & Sobble) I think this trend should be bucked for a Kanto game with the original three. After...

We are roughly a month away from Pokémon day 2025 and with that the next news on Pokémon Legends Z-A and with that games release this year we will close the book on generation 9. What that means is that generation 10 in 2026 which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the release of Pokémon Red & Green in Japan. I expect this to lead to a big celebration year with the release of games and possible special show but I wanted to focus on the games that will come. I think it will be interesting to see what route is taken with the core game following Scarlet and Violet. Previously I thought they would go back to a Japanese region but now I’m not so sure. Looking at what Generation 5 did with the Pokédex having a lot of Pokémon that served the same purposes as Generation 1 Pokémon. I think we may see similar with those who didn’t get a Gen 5 counterpart. The likes of Gyarados springs to mind as one that didn’t get a counterpart and it’d be nice to see another sea leviathan to g...

As mentioned previously we are close to the announcement for Pokémon Generation ten and as such my main interest is the new Pokémon we get. When you look at what has come before we have a lot of real animals that haven't become Pokémon (I mean it took nine generations to get a dolphin) so I wanted to break down a few that I would love to see become the inspiration to some new Pokémon. Obviously we have inanimate objects, fictional creatues inspired by both films and muthology but today I just wanted to look at those animals I feel could make interesting Pokémon. Racoon Starting off with a choice for what could be a Route One rodent Pokémon or maybe even something bigger. Racoon's would make sense to be in the Rattata position as an early route Pokémon with one evolution. While this would be fine I woud love to see a Racoon Pokémon get a bit more of a spotlight. I think for me it is how Racoon's are sometimes referred to as 'Trash Pandas' so I can't look past a R...

The timing is good for me working on this as we have just have the announcement that the second half of the Pokémon Scarlet & Violet being announced for December it leaves February 27, 2024 otherwise known as Pokémon day without a big announcement. I think this is where we will get the first confirmation of Generation Ten. While I don't know what form this will take be it the next mainline game or a new legends spin off (which if it is Unova and the original dragon please) so I wanted to cover some hopes and expectations for the next mainline game.  Hopes: A Smooth Running Game Should be an expectation but you never know. While I did enjoy Scarlet you cannot lie it was full of performance issues and could do with a graphical upgrade. Gamefreak seem to rush these games out and if they want to keep the same release schedule they should hire more staff to work on the game but a stort for another time. I do hope they have learned from the reception of Scarlet & Violet...

I saw a tweet talking about what Pokémon from each generation you would give an evolution to and I thought might as well do it myself. It is just as simple as that but with a few restrictions for myself. I wanted to not have branching evolutions so no new evolution for the likes of Poliwhirl or Slowpoke for example and no legendary or mythical Pokémon. With that being said here is my top pick from each generation which considering that generation 9 gave us an evolution for Primeape it feels like it could be any Pokémon. Generation One: Dewgong I had a few options with Arbok, Dodrio, Seaking or finally getting that Jynx finally getting its eveolution to match up with Magmar or Electabuzz but I went with Dewgong. I have to be honest, I don't really care for Dewgong it's not on my list of favourite Pokémon and I feel the design is very plain at least for me. While I would love Jynx to get its evolution to match up to its original trio I think the controversy in its design hi...

Another year brings another Pokémon game which seems to be the case now (that or DLC expansion) with multiple teams working on multiple games at once it seems the content, content, content approach is being taken which has hurt the performance of the game. I played Scarlet with my switch docked and the only issues I had were some lag and frame rate drops. I understand these are issues but to me it didn't hurt my enjoyment of the game, in fact I would say the free roam aspect was really fund and a great addition, I think it is something to keep but also improve. Whatever Generation Ten holds (which I can see as the first modern day Japan region since Generation 4 and Sinnoh as a big 10 generations of Pokémon celebration) I do think that we need level scaling for this format otherwise the game isn't maximising how free roaming it is you still really have a path to follow you can get your starter to level 10 and then go and beat gym 8 you are likely bound by the levels of your opp...

Sometimes, it is really hard playing Pokémon games the way I do. I like to build my team right away before I have the game, what I normally do is have around 8-10 (including starter) new Pokémon for this generation which I like the design of to then use, I'll have a preferred 6 but have back ups in case of any version exclusives which have no been announced which may change my team. However, for Sword & Shield onwards I really do feel like this has become a harder process, I spoke recently on the rise of leaks when it comes to video games and I feel that this can have an effect on people's hype but I wanted to break down in a bit further detail the other side of the coin with a lack of information.  Let's break down what we have for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet confirmed as of 24th July 2022, we have the 3 starters, the 2 box art legendaries and three other new Pokémon and that's it. We don't know any evolutions and on top of that only a handful of characters. I...

I remember growing up the only breaking speculation you'd get new information was from new trailers I remember how shocked I was when a new Super Smash Bros character trailer would just come out randomly or at least in my eyes they did. I had the same with Pokémon which is where the main topic of this comes from.  Over the more recent generations of games we've seen a large gathering of 'leak information' while started as false posts by people claiming their dads best friend works in marketing for Game Freak and would post any random rubbish it has changed to sources that leak information that is 100% genuine. The way they get this information unkown the main thing it is correct, people flock to hear all about anything they say this person holds power in the comminuty of the game in question but I wanted to put my thoughts down on leaks when it comes to video games and if it is a negative to fans. I should state to begin with that I actively seek these leaks out, I foll...

Pokémon day brought with it the big news that in 2022 we will get Generation 9 (most likely in October/November) with the announcement of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. While we hold very few details on the region itself speculation is rife so I thought why not join in on that fun. I want to break down my first thoughts on the region, new starters and other things we have seen to begin to get an idea of what to expect come the end of the year. I want to begin with the protagonists and their designs. It seems that this generation will dial back the cartoon like exaggerated features. The eyes have been shrunk on the protagonist face more resembling the characters from New Pokémon Snap then those from Sword and Shield. I do wonder if this is a change in the process when it comes to how expressive the players are. Will the protagonists have a wider range of expressions and movement? I remember Sun & Moon it felt that all the protagonist had was a nod and a shocked face so I wonder if we...

So a good period of time has elapsed since I first played Legends Arceus. Getting on release date until now I’ve been mesmerised by the gameplay and story which I don’t want to get too much into at the moment as I want to cover Legends as a game and potential sub series separately but in this I wanted to go over how Legends as a game can set up what we can expect for future titles. As ever much like Generation 7’s regional variants I think in some places Pokémon plays it safe when in the next generation is expands if ideas are positively received. Look at how regional variants got evolutions in Galar compared to Alola anyway here’s a few things we can see going forward Traditional Legendary Trios Are a Thing of The Past: I have thought on this since The Crown Tundra DLC but legends seems to confirm it. In Legends we got a forth Pokémon for the forces of nature in Enamorus to go alongside Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus. I’ve really enjoyed the addition as combined with Regieleki and R...

It seems that I'm giving October all the time in the world to discuss and baselessly speculate for Pokémon Legends: Arceus. As you can guess by the title I wanted to break down the pros and cons of giving the three starter Pokémon of Rowlet, Cyndaquil and Oshawott new starter evolutions. Out of these three I really like the Rowlet line (well I like Decidueye), Typhlosion is ok and while if Samurott is fine as a stand alone but I think it wastes the potential Dewott had for a cool Water samurai changing these sets an interesting precedent.    A way to set this game up and give it such a unique boost is changing the final evolutions designs and typing it gives a whole new outlook to team planning. However, this may set a precedent that each Legends game starters get new evolutions and if so what do you do. You're creating new designs for parts of the game where you don't really have to. We have 8 generations with 3 starters in each so you have an extra 21 Pokémon you'd...

Pokémon Legends: Arceus has been the talk of the Pokémon gaming world. Not only for its unique approach for a main series Pokémon in terms of gameplay but for finally giving an in game Arceus even you don't need an action replay for. I imagine a lot of the future of the game series when it comes to generation 9 and beyond will be judged on how this game sells. It had me wondering if Pokémon Legends: Arceus does well will we get more Legends like games to make a full sub section of canon main series games. I wanted to look at what Pokémon each of these could be based around. These games would give a chance for Mythical Pokémon to have real in game events save the need for them to be downloaded and that be it with no implementation to the story. This gives a chance for (the majority mentioned below) to finally be earned and not just given. For reference to how each Pokémon was decided I used the Mythical Pokémon section of Bulbapedia which defines these Pokémon as the below...

As we slowly come to the end of Pokémon generation 8 we look to the future and one of the main interests is the basis of the next home region in the main series of games. With a more worldwide approach to this now everything is a possibility. While the first 4 generations are based on regions of Japan we have had regions based on America (generations 5 & 7) as well as France being the basis for generation 6 and the UK for generation 8 it shows that anywhere now is a possibility. I do think a few places stand out of frontrunners more then other real world inspirations which I will discuss. Personally for me seeing the UK made into a Pokémon region was really cool and something I've wanted forever so now that is done I don't have a main preference but some of these I'd prefer more than others. I think a region based off of Egypt has a lot of potential. At least to me you have a lot of inspiration to pull from with various mythos of Egyptian history. I think it would be ni...

After a few days to reflect on the latest Pokémon Presents I have to say that Legends Arceus is one of my most anticipated games. One major relief I had was that we will get new regional forms as it has become one of my favourite parts of each game and with how Sword and Shield added evolutions on top of this for regional forms it really added to the whole product. Not only that we are getting new evolutions for older Pokémon with Wyrdeer the new evolution for Stantler and Basculegion for Basculin it is great to see Pokémon not really used or mentioned getting new attention and I have to be honest it will be the first time I've ever thought about using Basculin because of this. I wanted to break down a few other Pokémon that could get regional variants, evolutions or both.  Dunsparce - Evolution Starting with a popular choice if we are giving Pokémon like Stantler and Basculin who don't get used a new lease of life we might as well do it for one that people like. Dun...

Generation 8 for Pokémon will contain one of the more unique entries in the main series of games in Pokémon Legends: Arceus which set in a bygone era of the Pokémon world will see a different take on how the games operate. While at this time I do not know if gyms will be featured and the game features the ability to capture  Pokémon without going into battles. I just wanted to quickly lay out some hopes and expectations for the game. I don't think anything I state is overly ambitious but it's more of some general thoughts. I do wonder if we will see any new  Pokémon I do find it very unlikely but it would fun to see some which can be remade into fossils going forward. While I feel this could be unlikely I do wonder if some sort of regional form like a classical or historical forms that where the Pokémon has changed over time for once it reaches the modern setting has changed to the form we know.  I do wonder what will replace the gyms. I had a feeling the island trials wo...

Over the past few generations of Pokémon the regional variants of classic Pokémon has proven to be a series highlight. Breathing new life into classic designs with a new spin or typing and even doing further to add new evolutions really helps keep things fresh. In a game series with 898 unique Pokémon it stands to reason to refresh older designs to add to that regions choice. That being said I do wonder if we will see these forms would be introduced to the generation 4 remakes likely to come out this year or if this will wait until Generation 9. We did see with the Generation 3 remakes that mega evolutions were added and seeing how regional variants were not a thing then we can't use this as a basis we won't see this implemented here. Regardless, much like others I have Pokémon I'd like to see get this treatment. Either to add regional variants or for some a new evolution would do I've picked out a few of the Pokémon I'd like to see get this treatment the most a...

It's hard to believe that Pokémon turns 25 in 2021, what started as a video is a multi billion dollar juggernaut of media. Games, toys, anime, movies you name it Pokémon have probably done it. As expected next year will give us more Pokémon content to get stuck into with what many imagine will be a Diamond & Pearl remake. Personally, I would very much look forward to this. Not only have we had remakes of the first 3 generations in previous years but this would allow us a full reimagining of Sinnoh. With this being a remake and we've seen Pokémon make creative changes to the original games for this and being the 25th anniversary of the series I think we will see some big changes or at the very least I hope.  One of my favourite recent additions to Pokémon gameplay is the regional variants. Brought in for Sun & Moon and the concept evolved with Sword & Shield to include evolutions of this regional variants which I really enjoyed Obstagoon and Sirfetch'd and...

Around 2 months before the posting of this blog post I undertook a large task of ranking every single Pokémon. All 898 as of the end of the Crown Tundra each Pokémon ranked in my personal order of preference. A long stretch of work but very much worth it. While I don't want to go through this all one by one I want to cover a few key points and will attached the full list for your viewing pleasure should you wish to check it through yourself.  Top Six If we were to make a team of the top six Pokémon the team would be as follows: Blaziken Lucario Zoroark Greninja Toxtricity Scizor  What I noticed with this was when I find a favourite per generation I stick to that and it becomes a big favourite of mine (Alakazam and Lycanroc of generations one and seven respectively follow on the list) and most favourites are bipedal it takes until number 18 and Hydreigon as the first non bipedal Pokémon on the list (mainly because this Pokémon is always seen flying). Ty...

In terms of building a region new Pokémon are always one of the more interesting introductions. When it comes to generation eight one of the Pokémon I was most looking forward to was Sirfetch'd not just for finally giving Farfetch'd an evolution but helped my interest and like in Escavalier as it was explained how they were seen as rival Pokémon and how they were seen in the Galar region. I really liked this as it helped flesh out the species of two Pokémon and why they are seen as rivals and what that adds. I find this a good concept and one we should see more, we have a lot of examples such as Zangoose & Seviper, Heatmor & Durant, Reshiram & Zekrom and even more recently in Toxapex and Corsola (and how that evolves to include Cursola) and I think more Pokémon could do with rivals, here are some of the Pokémon I think could benefit from having a rival Pokémon. Where applicable I'll cover the typings and anything design related.  Cinderace Kicki...